The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) yesterday made the asset declarations of all 39 Presidential candidates publicly available on its official website, exposing significant financial disparities among them.
Based on their monthly incomes declared to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL), Presidential candidates Dilith Jayaweera and Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe appeared to be in strong financial standing in comparison to other key candidates.
Businessman Dilith Jayaweera contesting under the Communist Party of Sri Lanka ticket has declared a significant monthly allowance of Rs. 16,500,000. Property holding declared included a luxury apartment at One Galle Face. According to the declaration Jayaweera and his wife also appear to hold a substantial portfolio of shares across various businesses, including the hotel industry, along with jewellery valued at Rs. 30 million.
The average income of a worker in Sri Lanka is Rs. 50,000 and contesting under the Communist Party of Sri Lanka earns 330 times that amount. Marx and Engels must be turning in their graves!
Rajapakshe, contesting under the National Democratic Front (NDF) ticket, has declared a monthly income of Rs. 1,345,000. This includes Rs. 1,000,000 from Lotus Holdings, Rs. 65,000 from his ministerial position, and Rs. 280,000 from his role as a parliamentarian. His declared assets also include a Toyota V8 jeep purchased in 2016 and significant real estate holdings, such as a nine-acre coconut plantation and a property valued at Rs. 40 million in Delgahawatta, both generating substantial monthly income.
The assets of other leading candidates seem modest in comparison. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate Namal Rajapaksa, has reported a monthly income of a meagre Rs. 54,285 from his parliamentary duties, with additional allowances of Rs. 400,000.
His financial disclosures also revealed substantial personal loans, including a Rs. 200 million loan taken in 2017/2018, which accrues Rs. 3 million annually in interest, and a Rs. 10 million loan from 2020. His assets also featured gold valued at around Rs. 8.5 million and gems worth approximately Rs. 14.2 million. His property portfolio includes three lands, one gifted by his parents, as well as a collection of luxury vehicles received as wedding gifts.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe has disclosed a monthly salary of Rs. 97,500 and a Parliamentary pension allowance of Rs. 82,191.66. His financial assets consist of a modest cash holding of just Rs. 40,000, gold valued at Rs. 325,000 and three properties located in Kurunegala, Colombo 7, and Rajagiriya.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa has declared a modest monthly income of Rs. 285,681.14. His financial profile includes cash holdings of Rs. 78,000 for himself and Rs. 59,000 for his wife. Premadasa according to the declaration owns two Mitsubishi double cabs, a Land Cruiser, a Prado, and a Benz. His property holdings include agricultural land in Kahabiliyawatiya Waththa and a house in Rajagiriya. The declaration also highlights a significant and diverse portfolio of shares.
National People’s Power (NPP) leader and Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reported a monthly income of Rs. 54,285 from his MP salary, along with an allowance of Rs. 202,517.34. His assets include a Toyota Hilux Double Cab acquired in 2017 three bank accounts and a residential property in Ranmuthugala, Kadawatha, purchased in his wife’s name.
For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, all candidates were required to submit their asset and liability statements to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) along with their nomination papers in compliance with Section 89 of the Anti-Corruption Act.
The redacted versions of the relevant asset and liability declarations, with certain non-disclosable information removed as per Subsection 88(1) of the Anti-Corruption Act have now been made public via https://ads.ciaboc.lk
With the inputs from Daily FT.